Samsung Q7F vs Q9F Review (QN65Q7F vs QN65Q9F, QN75Q7F vs QN75Q9F)

Samsung Q9F is the flagship of Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineup while Samsung Q7F is the lowest model of Samsung QLED TV. Both of them equally come with flat screen. In the market, Q9F comes with 2 screen sizes options including 65 Inch (QN65Q9F) and 75 Inch (QN75Q9F), while Q7F comes with 3 screen sizes available including 55 Inch (QN55Q7F), 65 Inch (QN65Q7F), and 75 Inch (QN75Q7F). Because the screen sizes available which available on both are 65 Inch and 75 inch, this comparison certainly is also as true to these screen sizes, (QN65Q9F vs QN65Q7F, QN75Q7F vs QN75Q9F). When I was writing this comparison, with the same screen size, Samsung Q9F is sold thousands dollar more expensive than Q7F. But of course, their prices certainly are not fixed and could still change at any time. So, what are the advantages of Q9F considering it is sold far more expensive than Q7F?

Short Review of Samsung Q7F (QN55Q7F, QN65Q7F, QN75Q7F)

As we have mentioned above, Samsung Q7F is the lowest model of Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV. As a part of QLED TV, Quantum dot technology certainly becomes the mainstay technology behind it. Unlike OLED TV where the aspect of picture quality which maximized is contrast and black level, Samsung Q7F take a different approach to maximizes picture quality. With quantum dot panel driven by Q 4K Color Drive Elite technology behind it, Samsung QLED TV including Q7F is designed for maximizing color gamut and color volume that produced, result in almost all colors in DCI P3 color space of HDR images are shown very accurate. This makes Q7F is including a TV with the best color reproduction.

In addition to advanced quantum dot technology, Samsung Q7F is also powered by the number of Samsung’s most advanced technologies which maximize quality of the picture produced. On its panel, it uses Edge- Lit LED backlighting with local dimming technology (Precision Black). For maximizing blacks and contrast ratio, it is powered by combination of Supreme UHD Dimming, Ultra Black, Q 4K Elite Black and Contrast Enhancer technology. Additionally, for maximizing peak brightness and its performance when set in a bright room, there is combination of Ultra Clear Panel and Peak Illuminator Pro technologies behind it. Combination of all of these technologies makes the picture displayed on the screen of Q7F looks absolutely amazing, no matter the light condition of the room where it is used.

Samsung Q7F also comes with some features that also have great performance. Come with HDR technologies, it is powered by picture engine called Q engine and Q 4K HDR Elite technology for supporting HDR 10 format and HLG (Hybrid Log gamma). Additionally, for anticipating the many lower resolution contents which available in the market and allow you to enjoy them in 4K quality, it is also equipped with great UHD Up-scale Engine. It is also powered by Motion Rate 240 technology based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel, result in smooth and clear picture quality when used for watching fast moving images like sports program or fast movies. To satisfy the gamers, it has low input lag which allow you to play any kind of games responsively without laggy. And for completing your home entertainment, it feature Tizen OS as its smart TV platform which provide tons of interesting and useful apps. But unfortunately, because it use VA panel technology, poor side viewing angle certainly becomes its main drawback.

Short Review of Samsung Q9F (QN65Q7F, QN75Q9F)

Come as the flagship of Samsung’s 2017 QLED, Samsung Q9F offers the best picture quality among all models of QLED TV. Like Q7F series, it also comes with quantum dot panel that driven by Q 4K Color Drive Elite technology for maximizing color reproduction. With the combination of these technologies, it is able to deliver color gamut which can cover almost perfect of DCI P3 color space, results in exceptional renditions of color. Color gamut delivered Q9F series even is wider than its competitor like Sony A1E or LG C7, makes it is also including TV with the best renditions of color.

Like Q7F, Samsung Q9F also comes with VA technology with Edge-Lit LED backlighting and local dimming technology (Precision Black Ultimate Technology). Nevertheless, some technologies behind it have higher level than the technologies of Q7F series. For maximizing black level and contrast, it is powered by the combination of Q Elite Black + with Infinite Array, Supreme UHD Dimming, Ultra Black, and Contrast Enhance. Additionally, Samsung Q9F is also powered by the combination of Ultra Clear Panel and Peak Illuminator Ultimate technology for maximizing peak brightness and its performance when set in a bright environment. Combination of all technologies behind it makes the quality of the picture produced by Q9F looks absolutely amazing with excellent dark and bright scenes and prominent color accuracy.

As its picture engine, Samsung Q9F is also powered by Q engine. But unlike Q7F, as the HDR processor, it is powered by Q 4K HDR Elite + with Infinitive Array that offers better and sharper HDR picture. Nevertheless, unlike the competitor LG C7 or Sony A1E which already support most of HDR format including Dolby Vision, Samsung Q9F only support HDR 10 and HLG format only. Nevertheless, come with Ultra HD Premium Certification by UHD Alliance, it ensure you to enjoy HDR 10 videos fully like what intended by HDR technology itself. Meanwhile, the other features offered are similar to what offered by Q7F series. It also comes with great UHD Up-scaling engine for allowing you to enjoy lower resolution in 4K quality sharply and clearly. For delivering smooth picture quality with almost no motion blur when used for watching fast moving images, Q9F series is also powered by Motion Rate 240 based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. Samsung Q9F also have low input lag under “Game Mode”, make it is very comfortable for any kind of games. And as smart TV platform, it also features Tizen 2017 that powered by a quad core processor, offer simple, attractive and responsive smart TV experience. And as VA TV, poor side viewing angle also becomes the major drawback of Samsung Q9F.

The Key Differences between Samsung Q9F and Q7F

Essentially, both of Samsung Q9F and Q7F are powered by similar technologies. Which distinguishes is certainly about the level of the technologies behind them. As we see on comparison table above, although both of them have local dimming technology, but their level is different. Q9F comes with Ultimate version while Q7F comes with Pro Version. This is about the amount of dimming zones where ultimate version has more dimming zones than pro version. The level of peak Illuminator technology behind them is also different where as we see on table above, Q9F comes with ultimate version and Q7F come with pro version. This has a major impact on the peak brightness reached by them. Additionally, their black technology and HDR processor are also different where Q7F comes with Q 4K Elite Black and Q 4K HDR Elite while Q9F comes with Q 4K Elite Black + with Infinitive Array and Q 4K HDR Elite + with Infinite array. And the other difference but not too major is about their sound output where Samsung Q7F has 40 watts total sound output while Samsung Q9F has 60 watts total sound output.

Samsung Q7F vs Q9F Performance

Picture quality

Essentially, both of Samsung Q9F and Q7F offer excellent picture quality, no matter the light condition where they used. This is due almost all major aspect of picture quality including contrast ratio, peak brightness, color gamut and others produced by them are great.

Started from black level and contrast, both of them have excellent native contrast ratio and great [black uniformity, result in great dark scenes, even when set in dark environment. With about 4700:1 of contrast ratio for Q7F and 5000:1 of contrast ratio for Q9F, this certainly is strong enough to make black looks absolutely black, show makes the shadow details looks excellently. As we know, one of the purposes of HDR is for displaying more detail picture quality in dark scenes or shadow. And for displaying like what intended, an HDR TV must have 0.05 nits or darker of black level. While both of Samsung Q7F and Q9F can reach about 0.02 nits that means this is far lower than the recommendation set by UHD Alliance. The result, dark scenes looks excellently and very details on their screen, particularly when displaying HDR Images. Additionally, their deep black level and good black uniformity also make darker colors still look saturated, result in natural images in dark scenes.

Meanwhile, about peak brightness, with higher level of peak illuminator technology, Samsung Q9F also has brighter peak luminance than Q7F. Nevertheless, although peak brightness of Q7F is not as bright as Q9F but it is still far above average. Peak brightness of Q7F might be quite bright to make bright scene looks excellently when set in a dark or moderately room, but when used in a brighter room, it is not be able to fight the glare as well as Q9F. Additionally, peak luminance of Q7F is also not quite bright to display highlight of HDR image brighter than 1000 nits like as what intended. On the other hand, although not as bright as the Sony Z9D or X930E, but peak luminance reached by Q9F is excellent and far better than LG C7. It is quite bright to display bright scene look excellently, no matter the light condition of the room where it is used due its peak brightness effectively fight the glare. Additionally, it is also bright enough to display highlight of HDR images brighter than 1000 nits like what recommended by UHD Alliance for displaying HDR 10 videos fully.

Talking about its color performance, since both of them are powered by the same technology that is quantum dot driven by 4K Color Drive Elite Technology, color gamut delivered by them is similar. Both of them are able to deliver excellent wide color gamut, even can be said the best in 2017. It can cover almost perfectly DCI P3 of color space. Almost all colors in DCI P3 are shown perfectly, results in excellent accuracy color, even for HDR images which mastered with wide color gamut. As we know, for displaying HDR 10 videos fully like what intended, an HDR TV should be able to deliver at least 90% of DCI P3 color space, while both of them can cover near 100% of DCI P3 color space. And of course, they also able to perfectly display colors in Rec.709 of SDR images where its color gamut coverage is not as wide as DCI P3. Additionally, both of Samsung Q9F and Q7F are also already 10 bit color that means they are able to deliver about 1.07 billion shades of color. The result, although some little imperfections are still noticeable in the darker colors, color gradient of HDR images displayed on their screen still look excellent. But even so, it is not as good as high end of Sony TVs where they can deliver near perfectly color gradient with almost no color banding.

Meanwhile, for anticipating the many of lower resolution contents which available in the market, both Samsung Q7F and Q9F are equipped with great performance UHD Up-scaling engine. Low resolution content such as DVDs movies with 480p resolution doesn’t look too soft once it is up-scaled in 4K resolution, even small details are still preserved well. Let alone when the source has higher resolution such as movies from TV cable with 720p resolution or Blu Ray movies with 1080p resolution, the result certainly is sharper and clearer with small details are preserved better. Essentially, no matter the resolution of the source, you will enjoy them in 4K quality sharply and clearly.

The only major drawback of Samsung Q9F and Q7F is about its limited side viewing angle coverage. As we know, poor side viewing angle is native characteristic of VA panel while both of them use VA panel technology. The result, started at about 20 degrees off center and front, black will look tend to grey and color will shift and this certainly will make the quality of the picture will look degraded. Nevertheless, because all high end TVs with VA panel also have the same problem about side viewing angle coverage, this certainly can be said their own problem. Additionally, as long as you don’t often watch TV from side viewing angle, this certainly is not a problem for you.

Motion Handling and 24p Playback

While Samsung Q9F offer better performance than Q7F particularly when displaying bright screen or highlight of HDR image, talking about motion handling and 24p playback, both of them offer similar performance. Powered by some technology that is Motion Rate 240 based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel, both of them have very low pixel response time, result smooth picture quality when used for watching fast paced contents like sport program or fast movies. Following fast moving objects, there is only a short trail where most of people might not notice about that. Meanwhile, both of Samsung Q7F and Q9F are also equally offer great performance when playing 24p videos. No matter the video source, whether it is 24p videos like Blu Ray movies, 24p videos via 60i signals like movies of satellite TV, or even 24p videos via 60p signal like movies from streaming device, all of them are displayed clearly and smoothly with judder-free on their screen. Combine with stunning picture quality produced by them, this certainly give you an excellent watching movies experience.

Inputs/Outputs

Talking about inputs/outputs, both of Samsung Q9F and Q7F are also equipped with similar inputs/outputs. As their major connectivity, there are 3 USB Ports and 4 HDMI ports which already support the most of latest formats like HDCP 2.2, CEC, Audio Return Channel, and others. IN addition to USB and HDMI ports, there are also RF in (Antenna In), Ethernet In and Digital Audio Out (Optical). But even so, we don’t see Component In and AV In behind them, so if you have devices which use these inputs as their major connectivity, you will need an adapter. Meanwhile, talking about their input lag, both of them also have similar low input lag under “Game Mode”. With about 20 – 25 ms of input lag in any resolution, this certainly make both of them are very comfortable when used for any kind game with any resolution, even for fast paced games which require fast reflexes. Additionally, their input lag is also quite low under “PC Mode” that make both of them are also very comfortable when used as the PC Monitor.

Smart TV

Samsung Tizen 2017

Samsung Q7F and Q9F also feature the same smart TV platform, that is Tizen OS with Smart Hub which powered by a quad core processor. Compare to last year version, overall they are similar. A bit change is about their appearance where in this version, it comes with more attractive theme and nicer animation. Its user interface is designed attractively with simple layout that helps you quickly find what you are looking for. Additionally, there is also a narrow bar at the bottom of the screen contains quick access to most popular apps, so this allow you to launch them without leaving the home screen. Meanwhile, with the support of a quad core processor and a decent memory space, this makes its performance is very fast and responsive without mostly lag. The Apps provided are also very complete and diverse. As the preinstalled apps, there are most of popular apps available like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, Web browser, Screen Mirroring, Cloud Games, and many more. Additionally, there is also Samsung Apps Store which provides tons of useful and interesting apps where you can directly download them from your TV.

As the controller, both of Samsung Q9F and Q7F are also equipped with the same smart remote called “Samsung Smart Controller. Seen from its functions, they actually are the same with other model of Samsung smart controlled used by lower model like MU8000 or MU7000. The difference is about how they are finished. The smart remote of lower series are finished by plastic material while the remote of Q9F and Q7F is finished by metal. This remote is simple and only have minimalistic buttons and not many quick access buttons, even there are no “number” buttons. Nevertheless, you can navigate via smart Hub or use voice command that makes navigation is still simple. You need to know, this remote is equipped with built-in remote for voice navigation or voice search. Additionally, this remote is also can be functioned as an universal remote to control other devices connected on Samsung TV via HDMI ports.

Conclusion

As we have discussion a lot above, both of Samsung Q7F and Q9F have stunning picture quality, particularly about their color reproduction where they are the best. Although Q9F has a bit high native contrast ratio, but essentially both of them also have good black uniformity and high native contrast ratio, results in good movies experience in a dark room. A major difference between them is about peak luminance reached by them where with brighter peak brightness, Samsung Q7F offer better bright room experience and can show brighter highlight of HDR image like what recommended by UHD alliance. Although not as bright as Q9F, Samsung Q7F is also able show good bright scenes, particularly in a moderately or darker room, so as long as you don’t use it in a bright room with a lot of lights coming in through the window or highlight of HDR images above 1000 nits is not your main priority, this should not be a big problem. Meanwhile, performance of some other features offered by them is almost similar. If you are searching TV with the best contrast ratio, OLED TV might meet your need, but if you want TV with best color performance, Samsung QLED TV including Q7F and Q9F are the best.

So, which is a better choice between them? If you have extra money and don’t mind to spend thousand dollars of you money to get better picture quality and HDR experience, Samsung Q9F might be a better option for you. But if the price becomes your major consideration, Samsung Q7F also already offers good picture quality and HDR performance. Now the decision comes back to you according to your budget and preferences. But even so, before you decide to choose one of them, there are a lot of opinions from each of their real customers where you can make as your further consideration.

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